Toward an empire -- Annoying the king of Spain : blueprints, legalities, and baby steps -- Ralegh and the Second Desmond War -- "A man noted of not good happ by sea:" Humphrey Gilbert prepares to colonize America -- The case for genocide : George Peckham visualizes colonization -- The courtier -- The cult of Elizabeth -- Planting a New World colony -- Summer of discontent -- Singeing the Spaniard's beard -- A briefe and true report -- Publicizing Ralegh's Virginia -- Fire and smoke : the Hermeticists' Indians -- Planning the Munster plantation -- Bloodlines : Captain Ralegh and the Desmonds -- Ralegh in Youghal -- Preparing the plantation : establishing authority -- Resistance to plantation -- Ralegh's colonists -- The plantation economy -- Of friendship, marriage, and goddesses -- A courtier's disgrace and the shipping of staves -- The search for El Dorado -- The discovery of Guiana -- The benevolent empire -- Wheel of fortune -- Reincarnation : Ireland and the course of colonialism -- Treasons -- The great cordial -- Prince Henry -- History of the world -- "He called to the headman to shew him the ax."